Beckett turn up the second-half intensity to trounce Trent

LEEDS Beckett should start a bus company. Having waited 12 months for their first BSR win, they now have two after a competent away victory against Nottingham Trent.

A nip and tuck opening period saw the sides exchange tries with Alex Crocker raising the roof for the home side, but Beckett finished the half leading 10-7.

A nightmare restart saw Trent concede from the kick and they never recovered. A solitary penalty was all they could muster in reply to the forward power and crisp handling of Beckett. The final score was 36-10 with a bonus point to boot.

Further South across the Severn, Cardiff Met continued their resurgence at the expense of a misfiring Bath. Corey Whane and Aled Ward tries, complimented by the boot of captain Tom Morgan, were enough to see The Archers home. Ill discipline cost the Blue and Gold again this game, with two men seeing yellow as the game ended 18-10.

Durham hosted a ‘home’ game at Rosslyn Park on Friday night creating an event for their alumni, and the crowd were on song.

Close to 2,000 cheered Durham on to a lively start with plenty of line breaks but the support wasn’t there to capitalise as Exeter resisted.

A Landray penalty swelled the tide initially but soon after, early substitute Wales 7s hopeful, Cai Devine, gallivanted into the right corner to bring the house down.

Durham’s defensive tactic of flying out hard was paying dividends as Charlie Norman crossed the whitewash after a strong break and aware offload from Justin Clegg but Exeter responded.

Dom Thorne, who picked up a brace last week, profited from quick hands to fend over to make it 12-10 with a Landray kick.

Josh Pieters then powered through and Exeter had momentum. With the whitewash waiting Pieters shelled an easy chance but made amends shortly after and the half time whistle blew with the Green Machine 24-12 up.

The men in green started the second half at full speed and Thorne crossed again. Landray had a rare blip but soon enough Exeter showed their diversity and MOTM Pieters cemented his hat-trick, the beneficiary of a driving maul. Durham never gave up. Charlie Wilson was electric all night and his breaks set the platform for Nathan Wyman to narrow the gap. Slick hands allowed Rory Hardman to instill some more hope into the Palatinate but the game closed 36-22, with Exeter unbeaten at the top of the table.

Further North surprise package Northumbria took a bonus point win off much fancied Loughborough at home. Four first half tries stunned the African Violets with Josh Bragman adding every extra. It proved too much of a mountain for Loughborough to climb.

Northumbria were in control throughout and proved themselves to be a contender eventually winning 38-26.

Next Loughborough travel to Bath to the Rec for a showpiece game that both must target to win.